Draft rigging



Aug. 15, 1933. D, s. BARRows 1,923,046

DRAFT RIGGING Filed July 31, 1928 30a 7@ 22a a/Pa/a/J.' @ar/oms Patented Aug. 1,5', 1933`l UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGING Application July 31, 1928. Serial No. 296,462

3 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging and more particularly to a swivel butt coupler and means for holding the swivel pins thereof in operative position.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is t provide a swivel butt coupler in which the coupler stem and associated swivel block are formed with intercalated flanges with registering apertures for receiving pivotal means, said coupler stern and swivel block being slotted for receiving an associated draft key, pivot pins extending through the intercalated flanges on the coupler and swivel block to but not intersecting the draft key slot, the head ends of said pins being slotted and means engaging said slots to retain said pins in position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler and` block connection involving a swivel pin extending both from above and below with their inner ends spaced and held in operative positions by pins, rivets or cotters engaging slots in their head ends.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler and block connection involving swivel block pins with the head ends thereof formed with grooves or notches adapted for engagement by pins, rivets or cotters extending between spaced lugs on the adjacent outer faces of the swivel butt coupler, said faces also being preferably provided with lugs or abutment portions engaging said pins, rivets or cotters for supporting and strengthening the intermediate portions thereof..

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure l is a plan of a swivel butt couplerV with swivel pins and connecting means embodying my invention, the associated draft key and yoke being illustrated fragmentarily and diagrammatically. v

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the swivel but-t coupler and associated parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan corresponding to Figure 1 but showing a modification.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in verticalsection, of the modification shown in Figure 3 with a slight change.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and'rst considering the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a coupler 1 is shown, the stem portion of which is formed with rearwardly extending webs or flanges 2 and 3, said flanges being perforated at 4 and 5, respectively, for the reception of the respective pivot members or pins 6 and 7. The rear edges of said flanges are curved coaxially with respect to said perforations, as indicated at 8. The flanges 2 and 3 of the coupler preferably closely it in corresponding pockets 9 provided in the swivel block orbutt portion 10 of the coupler. The bottom or forward face of each pocket is Vcurved coaxially with respect .to the pivot apertures so that the flanges 2 and 3 of the coupler are adapted to fit into said pockets with the coaxial portions of the pockets for transmitting bufng forces therebetween.

The swivel block or butt portion 10 is provided with upper and lower flanges or Webs 11 and 12, respectively, and an intermediate flange portion 13, which is intersected, as shown, by a slot 14 for receiving an associated draft key 15 connecting said coupler with the associated yoke 16. Said slot is preferably continued as a corresponding slot 17 in the stem of the coupler 1, thereby providing an aperture of the proper size for receiving said key.

The pins or pivot members 6 and 7 are relatively short and provided with heads 18 and 19, respectively, in the present embodiment for limiting inward movement thereof with respect to the swivel block, whereby the inner ends of said pins, although preferably extending approximately to the slot 14, do not extend into or encroach upon the slot and interfere with the key 15. In order to retain the pins or pivotal members 6 and 7 in position, the pins, at the heads thereof are preferably grooved or notched, as indicated at 20, for receiving locking members extending from the webs or flanges 11 and 12 on the swivel block. Said locking members may be rivets 21, as illustrated, or other convenient locking means, such as cotters or pins, and said locking means preferably extend through lugs 22 positioned on opposite sides of the pins 6 and 7 and outstanding from the upper and lower faces of the flanges or webs 11 and 12, respectively.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a construction is there disclosed in which the stem of a 2a and 3a, said fianges being perforated as in- ,-7

dicated at iEL and 5a, respectively, for the reception of pivot pins 6a and 7a. The rear edges of the flanges are curved coaxially with respect to the perforations, as indicated at 8a. The flanges 2a and 3a of the coupler stem closely t in corresponding pockets 9a in the swivel block of butt portion 10a of the swivel butt coupler. The bottom or coupler engaging face of each pocket is curved coaxially with respect to the pivot apertures in the coupler and swivel block so that the fianges 2a and 3a of the coupler are adapted to fit into said pockets with the coaxial portions thereof for transmitting forces therebetween, at the same time permitting angling motion between the coupler and swivel block.

The swivel block or butt portion l0a of the coupler is provided with upper and lower` flanges or webs 11a and 12a, respectively, and an intermediate flange portion 13a which is intersected, as illustrated, by a slot 14a for receiving an associated draft key (not shown) for connecting said coupler to av yoke, as in the previous embodiment. Said slot is preferably continued as a corresponding slot 17a in the stem of the coupler la, thereby providing a slot or aperture of the proper size for receiving the key.

The pins 0r pivot members 6a and 7a are, in the present embodiment, formed relatively short with their head ends, or those ends protruding beyond the adjacent faces of the swivel block 10a, formed with peripheral grooves 20a, which extend either around the full circumference of the pin, as illustrated in Fig. 4, or are merely of suicient length to receive the retaining rivets or pins 21a as shown in Fig. 3. The collars or heads 23 beyond the grooves are preferably beveled, as illustrated, to facilitate application of the pins. Instead of having the outer ends enlarged to limit inward movement of the pins with respect to the swivel block whereby the inner ends do not extend in the slot 14a and interfere with the associated key, said pins are prevented from axial movement in either direction by locking means which, in the present embodiment, are shown as the rivets 21a, although it will be understood that pins in general, cotters or other similar means, may likewise be employed. The ends of the rivets 2l;JL are held in correspondingly apertured portions in outstanding lugs 222L on the corresponding faces of the swivel block 10a, said lugs being disposed on either side of the apertured portions of the swivel block, whereby the rivets therebetween engage in the correspondingly grooved portions 20a in said pins and prevent undesired movement in either direction.

In orderY to strengthen the pins, rivets or other retaining means 21a, lugs 24 are desirably provided between the lugs 22a and disposed so as to engage the sides of the retaining means 21a opposite the portions thereof received in the grooves or notches 20a. The lugs or abutments 24 are preferably integral with the swivel block l0a and engage the intermediate or central portions of the rivets 21, whereby they effect a large increase in strength in said rivets for the purpose of retaining the pins 6a and '7aN in place, in that they substantially prevent movement of said rivets away from the pins and out of the notches or' grooves 20 therein.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised means for efliciently holding swivel pins between the parts of a swivel butt coupler, an articulated shank, or between the stern of a coupler and its associated swivel block, said holding means not only preventing undesired removal of said pins but preventing movement of said pins toward each other, said pins being formed with or without the usual heads as desired. If pins are provided without enlarged heads the yretaining means or rivets may be greatly strengthened by providing lugs on the swivel block normally engaging intermediate portions of said means opposite to or adjacentvthe portions thereof which are received in the notches of the pivot pins.

The present application is a continuation, in part, of my application on draft rigging, Serial No. 208,284, filed July 25, 1927.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupler comprising a stem portion provided ;with rearwardly extending flanges perforated for pivotal means, the edges of said flanges being curved coaxially with respect to said perforations, a butt portion for said coupler provided with spaced complementary fianges embracing the flanges on the stem and similarly perforated, said flanges leaving pockets therebetween coaxially curved with respect to the perforations and engaging the curved flanges on the stem portion for transmitting bufling forces therebetween, said stem and butt portion being cooperatively slotted for receiving an associated draft key, said slot intersecting the perforations provided for the pivotal means, and relatively short pivot pins inserted from above and below said butt portion and provided with heads preventing said pins from extending into said slot to prevent interference with the associated key, and means for locking said pins in place.

2. A swivel butt coupler comprising a swivel block pivotally mounted on the coupler stem, said stem and swivel block being formed with a draft key receiving slot and means for pivotally connecting said swivel block to the coupler comprising pins extending upwardly and downwardly from the lower and upper faces of said block, and means on said swivel block faces engaging the ends of said pins for preventing them from interfering with the draft key slot and at the same time preventing undesired loss or removal thereof.

3. A coupler with an articulated shank comprising a stem portion and a block intercalated with respect to said stem portion, a draft key slot in said shank, a pivot member extending upwardly from the bottom of said shank approximately to said slot and another pivot member extending downwardly from the top of said shank approximately to said slot for pivotally connecting said stem and block, and means for holding said pivot members in place and preventing their adjacent end portions from encroaching on said slot.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

